Nigel Farage breaks silence on Huw Edwards sentencing with damning two-word verdict

Huw Edwards arrives astatine tribunal for sentencing

Nigel Farage has offered a scathing verdict connected the BBC aft Huw Edwards was handed a suspended situation condemnation yesterday for accessing indecent images of children - claiming it illustrated wherefore the nationalist was losing religion successful the corporation.

Former anchorman Edwards yesterday avoided jailhouse contempt admitting accessing indecent pictures of children arsenic young arsenic 7 erstwhile helium was handed a six-month situation condemnation suspended for 2 years astatine Westminster Magistrates’ Court, having pleaded blameworthy astatine an earlier hearing.

Speaking aft the sentencing, Mr Farage tweeted: "Huw Edwards volition not person a custodial condemnation and is inactive entitled to a ample BBC pension."

"No wonder", helium added, "the nationalist person mislaid religion successful our institutions“.

Edwards, 63, had admitted 3 charges of "making" indecent photographs aft helium was sent 41 amerciable images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams implicit WhatsApp.

Nigel Farage and disgraced erstwhile BBC presenter Huw Edwards (Image: GETTY/Police handout)

The tribunal yesterday heard helium had told Williams "go on" erstwhile asked if helium wanted "naughty pics and vids" of idiosyncratic described arsenic "yng (sic)".

Chief Magistrate, territory justice Paul Goldspring, said reputational and fiscal harm was the "natural effect of your behaviour which you brought upon yourself".

The BBC said Edwards had "betrayed not conscionable the BBC, but audiences who enactment their spot successful him" - adding that the corp was "appalled by his crimes".

The tribunal besides heard Edwards paid Williams hundreds of pounds aft helium sent him pornographic images, but his defence barrister Philip Evans KC said the broadcaster did not marque payments to Williams successful bid to person indecent images of children.

The prosecution said Williams asked Edwards for a "Christmas acquisition aft each the blistery videos".

Prosecutor Ian Hope said: "Alex Williams says helium wants immoderate Air Force 1 trainers that outgo astir £100, and Mr Edwards offers to nonstop him £200."

Of the indecent images helium received, the estimated property of astir of the children was betwixt 13 and 15, though 1 was aged betwixt 7 and nine.

Mr Evans said Edwards "recognises that helium has betrayed the priceless spot and religion of truthful galore people", adding that helium is "truly sorry" for however helium had "damaged his household and his loved ones" and for committing the offences.

Sentencing Edwards, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told the broadcaster: "Perhaps it does not request saying but you are of erstwhile bully character."

The justice said helium accepts Edwards had been of "exemplary" bully quality "having enjoyed a precise palmy vocation successful the media".

He continued: "It's evident that until present you were precise highly regarded by the public," adding that Edwards was "perhaps the astir recognised newsreader-journalist”.

Artist's content of erstwhile BBC presenter Huw Edwards appearing Westminster magistrates court. Mr (Image: Julia Quenzler / SWNS)

He pointed out: "It is not an exaggeration to accidental your long-earned estimation is successful tatters."

He besides told Edwards helium would beryllium taxable to 25 rehabilitation sessions and beryllium placed connected the enactment offender attraction programme for 40 days.

Edwards was besides ordered to wage £3,000 successful prosecution costs and was told helium would beryllium enactment connected the enactment offenders' registry for 7 years.

The justice continued: "I americium of the wide presumption that you bash not contiguous a hazard oregon information to the nationalist astatine large, specifically to children.

"There is simply a realistic imaginable of rehabilitation."

Former BBC Presenter Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates Court (Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)

He declined to marque a intersexual harm prevention bid against Edwards.

The last indecent representation was sent successful August 2021, a class A movie featuring a young boy, with convicted paedophile Williams telling the newsreader the kid was "quite young looking" and that helium had much images which were illegal.

Addressing the speech portion opening the lawsuit to the court, Mr Hope said: "Alex Williams says helium has immoderate 'naughty pics and vids unsure if you'd like'. Mr Edwards tells him to 'go on' and Alex Williams states 'yng (sic)'.

"Mr Edwards again tells him to 'go on' and Alex Williams sends a class A moving representation showing a antheral kid aged astir 7 to nine..."

"Mr Edwards inquires wherever the video is from and Alex Williams says an representation sharing radical connected different societal media level which they person some besides used, Telegram.

"Alex Williams says the taxable is 'quite yng looking' to which Mr Edwards responds it 'can beryllium deceptive' and asks if helium has 'any more?”'

A abstracted study conducted by a psychosexual therapist said: "The feelings of being desirable and unseen alongside Mr Edwards' unresolved intersexual predisposition created a cleanable tempest wherever helium engaged successful intersexual infidelities and became susceptible to radical blackmailing him."

Following his blameworthy pleas, the BBC admitted it was informed that the erstwhile TV presenter had been arrested successful November, but continued to employment him for astir 5 months until helium near connected aesculapian advice.

It has asked Edwards to repay the £200,000 wage helium has received since his arrest.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the wealth should beryllium returned and that the corp volition "explore" the ineligible process if Edwards refuses.